Going For A Ride

[wlotus]

After puttering around the apartment all morning, T and I headed out into the grey, damp afternoon. Our goal: drive to Long Island to browse some motorcycle shoppes and possibly buy me some touring boots. That is, T drove and I happily parked myself in the passenger seat...where I promptly fell asleep.

Our first stop was the store where T bought her bike in 2004. The store had changed management twice since then, but the new owners were the two guys she remembers from when she bought her bike. They didn't have the boots I need, but they are able to order them for me. She trusts them, so I'll probably place the order next week.

The other dealerships T remembered being in that area are gone, casualties of the recession, I guess. But the guys at her shop told us about a place 5 miles down the road with a showroom full of new bikes. We visited them before heading home, and holy cow, where those guys right! From wall to wall the showroom was full of bikes of all kinds, with cruisers and touring bikes along the first wall by the door. We sat on a Yamaha Royal Star Tour Deluxe and immediately fell in love with it. It doesn't weigh much more than T's Suzuki Volusia, but it has a much larger engine, more comfortable seat, and more natural reach for our arms. The shop was closing, so we didn't stay long, but it was long enough to get us charged up about the road trips we can make on that bike.

10 days until T starts her 3-day riding course to get her license. I need to get my boots, and fast!

Comments

[sixfiftytwo.livejournal.com]

Um...

HOORAY!!!

[saltdawg.livejournal.com]

Dude. I'm quite predigest when it comes to bikes. The Yamaha seems like a really good fit for (what I know about) you, but seriously. Look into the Russian "Ural". It's a pinko, direct reverse-engineered ripoff of the BMW, and is well made, reliable and (relatively)cheap. I'm a die-hard scooterist myself, but if I had to buy something with a motor between my legs instead of under my ass? I'd go with the Ural.

Just Sayin'

PeeEss: two wheels rocks no matter what is driving them. Also, please post boot pix. I love boots of all kinds.

[wlotus.livejournal.com]

I looked at it, and it's interesting, but the military/utilitarian style doesn't appeal to me. Plus, for that price ($13K) I could get something much more luxurious for long-distance riding...like the bike I sat on in the shoppe, today.

Will post boot pics when I get 'em! I shall have to pose. :-)

[wlotus.livejournal.com]

Yer biased. :-D

[iswari.livejournal.com]

What are touring boots? Interesting pic of T.

[wlotus.livejournal.com]

Touring boots are motorcycle boots specifically made for cruising/touring. Racing boots are a different style.